Celina’s POV
Xia had been my friend since I came to the orphanage. Yes, she was being bullied by the others when I first saw her and I pitied her so I helped her and fought back against those kids who were bullying her.
I was never a pushover and if someone hurt me from any of them, I see to it that I paid them back, double the pain, double the suffering. Xia didn’t leave my side after I saved her from those bullies and we proclaimed ourselves partners and had been to punishment and detentions together.
At first, she was crying, but when I told her that I was there for her, that’s the only time that she stopped. I always hugged her when she was scared. For me, at that time, we were each other’s strength.
Daniel and Lalaine adopted me and I promised to her that I am going to visit her often, since I thought both my adoptive parents loved and wanted me. But because it was the total opposite of what I had expected, I never got the chance to visit her. I was so worried about her because I knew that all the kids there would be targeting her once I was gone, and I wasn’t wrong.
I was surprised to see her outside our house and she was very mad at me for not coming and seeing her. I explained to her what had happened and I was thankful that she understood me. I feel sorry for her because she was abused by her own parents when they took her back. That’s the only time she told me about herself and nothing more.
We meet often outside our home because I didn’t want any of my adoptive parents to see her. I didn’t tell her about how I was at school and show her my fake grades so in case Daniel or Lalaine would accidentally meet her, she doesn’t need to lie to them and get caught and then get hurt.
And now, Jefferson wanted me to be cautious of her. I don’t know what he sees in her that he doesn’t like her just like what he said. He was sweet to me and had been really possessive of me as he always held me when we were together.
I was in our bedroom’s balcony doing my project when he arrived. “It’s getting dark, why are you still here?” he asked. I was startled and looked at him, he was leaning on the glass door frame and he looked devilishly handsome. I didn’t answer and looked at my drawing tablet and I felt him approaching me. He lowered his head and called me,
“My Celina,” he said, so I looked at him. He was so close so I had no time to avoid his kiss. It was deep and long and I responded. What else can I do? I was already used to it. “You have to answer when I ask or say something. I didn’t want to be ignored by you.” he said and kissed me again and just like earlier, I responded. “You kiss your husband when he comes home from work.” then kissed me again. Gosh, I think I’m drowning with his kisses.
We stopped kissing and he sat beside me as he put down a brown envelope on the table. He looked at my work and said, “It’s a bag.” and I nodded. “What for?” he added, wanting an explanation.
“It’s for my client, he had a bag collection boutique and he asked me to make a design for his spring limited edition collection.” I told him.
“And the jewelry design in the mall?”
“That was when I was in college and I needed this,” I told him, pointing at my drawing tablet.
“How much did you earn from that?” he asked again.
“Not much, just this tablet, softwares and some of my college needs.” I replied,.
“You should know that you could have get more,”
“I know, but I was only in first year at that time and what matters to me is to get clients that could help support my studies. That client of mine gave me a lot of other clients.” I replied, “Plus, she wanted me to make her a new design but after my second project to her, I got married to you and you left. Her company even recruited me, but you’re not here and I had to look after your company so I had to turn it down.”
“Did our marriage ruined your career?” he asked,
“Not at all. If I accepted that, my adoptive parents would still be hanging around me. Marrying you made me cut my ties with them, totally.” I replied.
“That’s a good thing?”
“Yeah, you don’t know how toxic they were. Even if I accepted the offer they would still come at me and no matter how much I hide, they will definitely find me in the end.”
“What did you do?”
“I made them write an agreement. I think daddy John paid them to let me marry you. I was already planning on leaving them and then hiding but the offer to marry you is much more hassle free than running away.”
“Thank you,” he said, looking at me intently as he rubbed the side of my lips with his thumb and I started to feel wanton over him. That is how he affected me.
“For what?”
“For letting me know you a little more.” he replied, “Let’s find out something about each other day by day.” he added and I nodded in agreement. I like that too, I want to give our marriage a chance of being happy.
“Now, someone sent this to me.” he said pointing at the envelope so I got curious.
“What’s that?”
“See for yourself.” he replied and did as he said. I opened the envelope and found all of my fake school credentials. Who sent this to him? I looked at him, confused.
“After I hear about your adoptive parents, I should include them in my suspects. Although I don’t see any reason for them to send me this because they already know that we are already married and we are not showing or flaunting our marriage. If they wanted money then I think they were doing it all wrong because I don’t care about those sh**.” he replied.
“And your other suspect?” I asked although I already knew who it was.
“Xia,” he replied, just as I thought.